I really enjoyed this book - 3.5 out of 5 stars gladly. I wanted a book that felt like the beginnings of summer and this book did just that. I loved KL Wather's book The Summer of Broken Rules and she didn't disappoint with While We're Young.
The four characters have unique dynamics both as a large group and between different pairings. I love that they're all family friends and true friends. There is a pretty heavy miscommunication trope that goes on throughout the novel, BUT they are seniors in high school so it's a bit expected. There is a closed door sex scene that... I think we could have passed on but it is what it is. It doesn't get explicit so it's still appropriate for younger readers.
I loved the different nods to music and movies throughout that was a fun touch.

KL Walther where is your debut adult novel... I think you'd crush it!

This fun YA romance inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off follows the story of Grace, Isa, Everett, and James who were all four best friends growing up but only all hang out together now when their families are together. Grace decides it’s time to get the gang back together and plans a day off, taking her best friend Isa and her secret crush Everett (who used to date Isa before a messy freshman year break up) with her. This leaves her twin, James, to figure out what really going on because he has a sneaking suspicion that is sister isn’t really sick. He may just get a few clues from Isa, who he has a secret romance with, because every high schooler knows it’s not cool to date your best friend’s brother! Only an adventurous day such as this one could stand a chance of bringing these four back together.
This was such a heartwarming book and such an easy read. I thought the characters were cute, and I really enjoyed the story. At times I felt it was a little disjointed, and I sometimes found the characters a little annoying (which I think is my personal problem when reading books where teens are the main characters, no fault of the author). But if you’re looking for a fun, coming of age, easy read, this one is for you!

Thank you @netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review

I liked this much better than I did The Summer of Broken Rules. It was a fun romp, that I think many teenagers will enjoy.

While We’re Young is very much a fun, carefree, <I>live while we’re young</I> very high school vibe. Some YA books are relatable to adults, but this one is not. But it’s oh so fun!! It was fast and sweet and I really liked it!! This is a great summer read. I’d definitely recommend the audiobook.

It took me about a quarter of the book to really get into it. I found the characters hard to connect with at first until some truths started to come out and they started to be more like people than caricatures. But once I started liking the characters I was so invested in them. I love this little quartet.

One of the main conflicts is between Isa and Everett and their infamous freshman year breakup; girl, you were 14 lol get over it. And Grace and Isa have so many miscommunications, ugh. And now Isa, Grace, Everett, and James are seniors and keeping all kinds of secrets from each other…. Yall!! Honesty is the best policy! Gahhh! I liked the characters so much that I was rooting for them and wanted them to make better choices. Ugh.

Overall: Super fun book! It starts off feeling very juvenile, but I promise it gets better as the day goes on. This would be the perfect beach read!!!

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I am so glad it's finally out.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an E-Arc of this book. The following is my honest opinion *

3⭐ out 5

"A whirlwind romance inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off..." - This a snippet of the description that is very important for anyone wanting to read this book. I have never seen this movie at all and never really had a pull to watch it. But I do understand the premise of it.

With that being said, I have these a 3 star, neutral rating. I don't think this was for me, in many ways.
-Again, Ferris Bueller inspiration, not for me.
-Format was a off. I have read books with many POVs but the change in views just lost me at moments. The repetition of one moment shown throw the multiple characters made it felt like dragging but I understand it. Could have been done in a different way but that's my opinion....

There were aspects that I did like. I related very much with Isabel's character. I think I would have enjoyed it more if she was the central character. The romance.

I would recommend this book to other people.

This was such a cute and fun read! I got through it incredibly fast. It had all of the heart ache and resilience The Summer of Broken Rules had! This is such a cute book, I loveeeee all of the Taylor Swift references in all of K. L. Walther’s books! This story followed 4 seniors as they engaged in Ferris Bueller’s Day off type shenanigans, it was almost Book Smart (the movie) meets Ferris Bueller’s day off! The fun twist in this was that it was the goody two shoes sister that pretended to be sick and her brother who was in trouble for skipping trying to track her down. That role reversal was very cute and fun. I think my ~main~ complaint is that I feel like there were loose ends with Isa’s character arc. I think all of the characters were left super open ended, but hers just felt a bit unfinished to me. This was a quick, fun read- and it’s great for high school aged readers or anyone who enjoys YA!

This is a drama-filled YA contemporary retelling of Ferris Bueller, but with moments of emotional depth alongside the comedy and hijinks. I loved all the complex layers of the relationships between all the characters, who are friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, and siblings in various combinations. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end and would like to read more from K.L. Walther.

This was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed having a modern Ferris Bueller’s Day Off retelling. This has 4 point of views and one largely stood out as my favorite-James! He was charming and funny. I laughed out loud. The other storylines were good although I did sometimes feel like the two female POV were too similar and I had to keep reminding myself who was who. Overall a cute, book and I think teens would enjoy.

I like that the book took place all in one day, with the chapters alternating between the points of view of each of the friends. It was a mix of fun and light with heavy, emotional childhood memories. It definitely was reminiscent of Ferric Bueller's Day Off, but it wasn't shy about letting you know that off the bat. A lot of the story just didn't seem realistic or believable enough for me, so that's what knocked it down a little on the rating, but it was a fun idea nonetheless.

Thank you to Netgalley, KL Walther and Random House Children's for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fun book, with lots of childhood connections that makes it a little reminiscent of Summer I Turned Pretty.

I like the characters— they’re all distinct enough to have their differing points of view be really intriguing. The feel of freedom from a day of skipping school. The culmination of the day away from the norm, the drama it produces, and the healing, are really a great story.

After I saw that Andrew Eiden was the narrator I listened to the book as well as read it. He was great as always, and I loved Grace’s narrator as well.

Grace, Isa, Everett, and James grew up the closest of friends but growing up and life in general have made them drift apart and hide things from each other. This separation prompts straight-laced Grace to pull one over on every adult and manufacture the perfect Senior skip-day for all of them in order to remind them all of what they had and try to revive it.

While it does have some solid writing and sweet moments with characters you connect with, I couldn't get over how close the story is to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The fact that the blurb even mentions it so that it's top of mind when you begin reading made that association and comparison even stronger to avoid. My mind kept flashing back to the movie instead of focusing on the moments between Grace, Isa, Everett, and James. It may be better for the younger readers it's intended for if they're not as steeped in loving that movie for as long as I have so they can enjoy the book for itself, but I just never managed to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for the interesting read!

A *Ferris Bueller’s Day Off* retelling? Yes, please! This was such a fun read, and I loved experiencing the story through four different POVs. Having our main skipper and her best friend as girls was a fantastic twist, and the nods to the original—sprinkled throughout as fun little Easter eggs—made it even more enjoyable for fans of the movie. The adventure through Philly, complete with historical sites and, of course, Philly cheesesteaks, added so much charm. I also appreciated the dual romance arcs and how the story wove in real-life challenges that high school seniors face. Such a delightful, nostalgic ride!

This book was an absolute delight. Full disclosure - I was predestined to enjoy While We're Young because I'm a huge Ferris Bueller's Day Off fan and originally from Philly. The multitude of Ferris Bueller Easter eggs and knowing nods are a HOOT! Regardless, this book can be enjoyed by readers unfamiliar with either. At it's heart a story about friendship, romance, healing rifts and getting honest, the book never feels heavy-handed or didactic. It's fun, light, nutty - and hard hitting when it needs to be. A truly engaging read.

K.L. Walther is one of my favorite authors and this juts proves why again! Her writing is easy to sink into, characters that are beautifully developed and conflict that feels so real. She really captures the essence of being young and going through life before college, when everything is about to change. I loved the friendships that both adults and children had in this novel. It felt a little TOO similar to Ferris Bueller which pulled me out of the story a few times but I still really loved it!

This was a fun retelling of Ferris buellers day off, but way more drama. Do friends this close end up pairing up AND keeping it a secret from each other? Without the others noticing? Does an entire school notice / rally when one student is home sick from school? Do parents of high school students not realize that blended up food is not the same stretch as vomit? There were some big gaps for me that took away from the story. And the character POVs sounded very similar which made it frustrating to have to keep checking the chapter titles.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved every single thing about this book.. except that James wasn’t invited. I know, I know it was a huge part of the story he wasn’t there and it made for *that scene* at the end {swoon} but ugh the whole time I was like this would be more fun if James were here.

All the little details of this Ferris Bueller book were perfectly done. I loved the movie and this book had the right amount of details without making it the actual movie. The characters and issues and day were all their own.

And omg the struggle and emotions they were all privately going through without realizing the others were battling their own issues was heartbreaking. Everett, can he get like a hug or a cookie, I know these things don’t make up for what he’s going through but baking is what I do when there are emotions 🤷🏻‍♀️🥹

Anyway adored this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This was a cute read, but definitely geared for the YA audience, not adults. Often I feel there is a cross and it can be read for either,r but not with this one.

4.75⭐️

I love reading

This book is based on one of my favorite movies: "Ferris Buler's Day Off", and it did not disappoint.

I absolutely loved every second of this and binged it in every free second that I had.

I loved both the romances that unfolded in this book. Sooooo cute!

I love K.L. Walther's writing style so much. Her books are always so unique and fun!!

Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the ARC! 💗

Grace is the student body president and loved by everyone. Her twin brother, James, is not any of that. They don’t have much of a relationship. Ev loves Grace even though their friendship fell apart recently. He is struggling emotionally since his father died. Isa has demanding parents that push her to be the best at everything. She has been in love with James forever but he’s Grace’s twin so they don’t act on it. Can these couples figure out their relationships?

The characters in the story are high school seniors looking forward to graduating and heading to their chosen colleges. The four characters have known each other for years. They spend time together because their families are close. Grace is a good girl and hard worker. She concocts the plan to skip school and spend the day in Philadelphia. She wants Ev and Grace to get along again because she loves them both. James gets left behind in school dealing with all of his normal issues. He is annoyed that he got left behind. The day brings joy, consternation and discoveries. In the end, they are still seniors close to graduation but they have worked out their interpersonal issues.

This story takes place in Philadelphia. This book went nowhere. It’s not poorly written but I didn’t connect with it. It takes place in a single day but manages to rearrange all four of their lives. I think I was supposed to see it as a coming of age love story but it fell kind of flat in my opinion. This will appeal to lots of readers. It’s a young adult romp which lots of people will like. The story doesn’t have an ending so much as a bunch of new beginnings. I don’t know if I will read more from this author in the future.